Get set for a top Sunday arvo

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I love Sunday afternoon footy. In the old days all football was
played on Sunday and I remember the excitement in the crowd as
progress scores from other games bellowed out over the
loudspeakers.

It will be like that today. All three games boast sell-out
crowds and all will have a bearing on the make-up of the top
eight.

The highlight will be the much-awaited top-of-the-table clash
between Brisbane and St George Illawarra - the premiership leaders
standing up to the new favourites. The Broncos and the Dragons need
this game right now with the finals less than a month away.

The Broncos have been the most consistent team in the NRL in
2005. They obviously worked hard during the off-season making
significant changes to their attacking structure. In recent years
their game had been looking old-fashioned and tired, but this year
they look reborn and full of intensity.

Barry Berrigan (unfortunately, not playing today) and Casey
McGuire have created more variety out of dummy-half to keep the
opposition guessing and it has taken the pressure off the
traditional attacking options around Darren Lockyer.

Their forwards also developed a passing game to provide relief
from their all too familiar pattern of just tucking the ball under
the arm and smashing head first into the opposition. Many tries
this year have been instigated by passes from Shane Webcke, Petero
Civoniceva or Neville Costigan, creating space for outside
supports.

Then we have the ever-developing combination among skilful
players such as Brett Seymour, Lockyer and Karmichael Hunt igniting
Shaun Berrigan, Justin Hodges and Brent Tate.

The Broncos deserve their position at the top of the table but I
reckon coach Wayne Bennett will be happy now that the race for the
minor premiership is well and truly back on. There is nothing worse
than coasting into the play-offs in games of little significance,
but now motivation will come easy and with motivation comes better
performance.

The Broncos got the staggers in the past few weeks but they will
snap out of it today. That's why they need this game. They need the
challenge. They have been watching the Dragons coming after them
for some time. I suspect every time they hear experts gush praise
over the team with the big red V, the Broncos players would
experience that little surge of adrenaline and that feeling I think
you call competitiveness. The Broncos have it in bucketloads.

The Dragons have been great over the past month, with big wins
over the Sea Eagles, Sharks, Roosters and Cowboys. But let's be
honest, those teams really offered only token resistance.

The three things about the Dragons that really stand out for me
are:

They are playing as a team. This might sound a little
simplistic and maybe you expect all teams to do this, but the
Dragons have only recently discovered this phenomenon and they are
like kids with a new toy. It is really working for them.

They are making fewer mistakes. Their ball control has
been outstanding, whereas early in the year they had little or no
respect for possession.

Their defence is the best in the NRL. The size and
mobility of their forwards and the size and strength of their backs
have allowed them to control the game even without the ball.
Defence wins premierships.

I don't know who will win today and, to be honest, I don't care.
I just can't wait to get to Suncorp Stadium. I am a football
junkie.

I will also be keeping an ear to progress scores from other
games.

This time last year the Cowboys defeated the Tigers at
Campbelltown and it was a case of "sliding doors" as the Cowboys
boarded the semi-final train and headed for greatness while the
Tigers were left at the station wondering what might have been.

I got the impression the Cowboys were a little underdone against
the Dragons last weekend. They rushed a few players back from
injury for that game and they weren't quite ready for the intensity
of the Dragons. I saw some definite signs they were about to strike
some good form.

The Tigers have been outstanding but last week against the
Raiders I saw some signs of wear and tear. They might be ready to
put in a wobbly one.

I think the Cowboys can win today.

The "house full" sign will go up today at Newcastle, where Manly
will have their hands full with the rejuvenated Knights. On recent
form, Newcastle probably rate among the top six teams in the comp
even though they are still in last place.

They won't let their fans down today. Manly will be aided by the
return of second rower Anthony Watmough, but I am confident the
Knights will add another big scalp to their growing collection.